Features

Creating a Custom Template from LayerStack VM

Templates allow you to manually create a point-in-time image based on the current state of a cloud server and can later be used to create new cloud servers with the same contents of the template.

Templates are retained as long as you have cloud servers in your account, or until manually deleted. You can restore a cloud server back to the point in time when a template was made.

Creating an manual template can take several minutes, depending on the size of your cloud server and data you have stored on it.

Importing a Custom VM Template

Make use of the VM Import feature to import virtual machine (VM) image from your own virtualization environment via LayerPanel portal which can then be used to install your new Cloud servers. Importing an image of your already existing VM to install your new server enables you to save time and your investment that is required for setting up the server with your own custom configuration and security settings for the server.

The VM images that we currently support include VMDK, RAW, VDI, VHDX and QCOW2.

Regional Availability

Templates are available for all cloud servers.

Role Permissions

Role	Permissions
Owner	Create Templates, View Templates, Restore from Template, Deploy Cloud Server from Template, Delete Templates
Member	Not Available
Billing Member	Not Available
Billing Admin	Not Available

Limits

• Each account can have up to 2 concurrent template copies. The template maximum size is 150GB.
• If there is no cloud server in the account, the system will completely delete all the template copies, which we cannot revert even if you perform it by accident.
• You will not have access to your Templates during a suspension or following termination.

Quick Start Guide

Create Custom Template

You can create Custom Template in 2 ways: One is by creating from LayerStack Cloud Servers and the other one by importing VM using your own VM image file.

Creating from LayerStack Cloud Servers

1. Log in to LayerPanel, go to the Services section and click Cloud Servers button, and then click on the Cloud Servers you want to create custom template.
2. Select the Template button.
3. Input your template name, and then click the Create button.
4. The template status will show as In Progress in the Template List page, and it will show as Working once the template is created successfully. In this section, the template name, region and date can also be checked here.

Importing a Custom VM Template

1. Log in to LayerPanel, go to the Services section and click Cloud Servers button, and then click on the Cloud Servers you want to use VM image file.

2. Click the Template button.

3. Click the Upload option and you will see 3 options here.

   Choose URL:

   File Location: Input the HTTP download URL
   File Name: Input your name of VM image file (E.g CentOS8)
   Example: http://xxx.com/pub/Linux/centos/8/xxx.iso

   NOTE: If your template file is in FTP server, you need to use FTP method and change URL from http:// to ftp://.

   Example:

   http://ftp.xxx.hk/pub/Linux/centos/8/xxx.iso
   change to
   ftp://ftp.xxx.hk/pub/Linux/centos/8/xxx.iso
   
   

   Choose FTP:

   File Location: Input the FTP directory path
   File Name: Input your name of VM image file (E.g CentOS8)
   FTP Login: Input your FTP login username
   FTP Password: Input your FTP password
   

   Example: ftp://ftp.xxx.hk/pub/Linux/centos/8/xxx.iso
   
   

   Choose Google Drive Link:

   File Location: Input the HTTP download URL
   File Name: Input your name of VM image file (E.g CentOS8)
   

   Example: https://drive.google.com/file/xxx/view?usp=sharing

   NOTE: Make sure to select the option of Public on the web because the connection is public between your computer and our server.

   

4. Select File Format of your VM image file (E.g. vmdk, raw, vdi, vhdx and qcow2), and then click Upload for the file upload process.

5. The template status will show as In Progress in the Template List page, and it will show as Working once the template is created successfully.

Install the server with Custom Template / VM Image File

1. Select the Rebuild button.
2. From the drop down option of Choose OS Image, you will find your own template file name from the category of Custom Templates and select it.
3. Input your new server administrator / root password, and then click Confirm and Reinstall button.
4. Confirm the data removal in the modal that follows, and then your Cloud Server will be ready after few minutes when the installation is completed.

Delete a Custom Template / VM Image File

1. Log in to LayerPanel, go to the Services section and click Template. button.
2. Select the Edit button of the template you want to remove in the right hand side.
3. Select the Remove button.
4. Confirm the deletion in the modal that follows.